Campbell returns to represent District 83

ROWAN COUNTY — Despite a split county vote, Grant Campbell is headed back to the legislature for a second term representing District 83.

Campbell, the incumbent Republican candidate, won the race over Democratic challenger Johnnie Jones. Campbell won with 18,240 votes, roughly 56 percent of the vote, while Jones totalled 14,126 votes, roughly 44 percent.

While Campbell maintained a majority vote in his district in Rowan County, he did not get the majority in Cabarrus. Jones totalled 1,582 votes over Campbell in Cabarrus County. Though Campbell maintained a healthy lead in Rowan with 5,696 votes over Jones.

In 2024 for Campbell’s first year running, he won the seat with 30,279 votes, roughly 66 percent, over his Democratic opponent Joanne Chesley who amassed 15,825 votes, roughly 34 percent. Campbell also won Cabarrus county by 2,009 votes and Rowan by 12,445.

Campbell acknowledged the challenges the Republican party had statewide, losing control of the state house and potentially the senate, with Cabarrus County being one of the most impacted by that trend.

“In Cabarrus, we need to look at why this happened and what can the party be doing better in terms of messaging, unity and behavior,” Campbell said. “Everything needs to be on the table.”

Additionally, he recognized that independent voters continue to play a large role in elections, making the parties earn votes rather than just expect them. He welcomed this shift and expressed hope that other politicians would too.

“Both parties are going to have to recognize the overwhelming number and influence of the unaffiliated voters,” Campbell said. “Both Democrats and Republicans are going to have to earn the trust of the unaffiliated voters in each election cycle, and that’s not a bad thing.”

Despite the split vote, Campbell expressed no shift in how he thinks about his district as a whole, but the shift requires listening and evaluating voters’ wants.

“I don’t see my district as two pieces. I will bust my butt to represent my Cabarrus constituents as much as my Rowan ones,” Campbell said. “Voters will tell you how they feel, and it’s your choice whether you will listen to it or not. A good elected official will listen.”

Being in the newfound minority, Campbell also emphasized that he is not afraid of bi-partisan work and will continue his pragmatic approach to legislation.

“People in the other party are good people,” Campbell said. “We want the same thing but disagree on how to get to that thing.”